Production of water gas



July 20, 1926.

' 1,592,861 J. E. LEONARZ PRODUCTION OF WATER GA S Filed Sept. 14; 921

Patented July 20, 1926.

JOBANN EMIL LEONARZ, OF TACUZBAYA, MEXICO.

raonuc'rron or WATER GAS.

Application filed September 14, 1921.

In my improved process, hereinafter described and claimed, water gas isproduced by the carburetion of water vapor when the same is passedthrough a bath of molten met-a1 in the Jresence of uncombined carbon. Itis found t at steam is readily dissociated into its constituent elementsat the temperature of about 900 to 1200 C. A bath of molten iron at thisor a higher temperature has the further advantage of carrying carboneither in solution or in suspension, and of giving up this carbon forcombination with the hydrogen and oxygen of the steam.

This is carried out in a continuous process whereby the necessary heatfor the re action is provided from an external source. This avoids thenecessity which is found in most processes of regenerating the heatcontained in the reaction chamber. Moreover, the process is carried outwithout the introduction to the reaction chamber of air which ordinarilyis relied upon to support the combustion necessary for heating.

As the process is carried out in my invention the reacting materials arebrought together under considerable pressure and intirnate contact ismaintained for a relatively considerable space of time.

It is also found that the generation of water gas in this manner willsupply the product under any desirable pressure. In this manner, the gasis adapted forimmediate use without further manipulation such as pumpingor blowing. j

It will be found that one of the advantages in the preferred manner ofcarrying out this invention resides in the particular mode of chargingthe molten bath with fresh material. This charging is accomplishedthrough the tower which serves to carry off the water gas and the freshheated charges serve to react further chemically upon the product aswell as to purify the same mechanically.

One form which my invention may take is illustrated diagrammatically inthe accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation ofthe gas producing apparatus, and

Fig. 2 1s a plan view of the same.

A foundation 1 of masonry or other suitable material carries a steamboiler denoted generally by the numeral 2. The steam dome 3 of theboiler leads to a pipe 4 which serves to deliver the steam unde;suitable pressure to the gas generator proper.

Serial No. 500,542.

The gas generator consists of a tank 5 which is divided into twochambers G and 7. The portion 6 serves for the purpose of maintaining alarge volume of heated metal constantly in circulation and agitation byreason of the application to the portion (S of external heat, not shownin the drawing. This body of fluid is maintained in circulation betweenthe chambers 6 and 7 by mechanical means such as agitators 8, suitablydriven mechanically as indicated by 9 in Fig. 2. Excess fluid metal maybe withdrawn from the chamber 6 in any convenient way.

A partition 10 having an arch 11 divides the chamber 6 from chamber 7but permits circulation through their lower portions. The chamber 7forms the base of the gas generator tower 13. The pipe 4 from the steamboiler leads into the chamber 7 beneath the surface of the molten metal.It is to be understood that the steam when delivered beneath the levelof the molten metal will travel upward at a relatively low speed due tothe viscosity of the material and will therefore be maintained inintimate contact with the molten metal for a desirable period of time.

The period for the passage of the steam through'and out of the moltenbath is controlled by means of suitable bafiies or circuitous passagesleading from the outlet of the pipe 4:. Thus. the steam is broken upinto small jets and contact with the molten bath prolonged as desired.Such a baffle 12 is shown by way of example in the drawing.

Generatortower 13 has a gas outlet eonduit 14 by which the generated gasis drawn off. The top of the tower carries a conventional form ofcharging device 15.

As shown in Fig. 1, coke or other form of carbon is fed through thecharging device 15 and maintained as a body 16 of considerable depthabove the molten bath. As the fuel burns out a slag forms upon thesurface of the metal and is periodically drawn off.

An additional inlet pipe 18 leads through the side wall of tower 13 andterminates beneath the surface of the molten bath. Through this pipepowdered or liquid fuel may be fed to increase the proportion of carbonmaintained in the bath.

Steam from the boiler 2 is delivered by the pipe 4 beneath the bailie orother device 12 whereby the water vapor is brought into intimate contactwith the molten metal. It

. preciable quantity of carbon dioxide.

is desirable that this water vapor be broken up into jets or smallstreams to promote the desired reaction. The molten metal is maintainedat a suitable temperature and constantly circulated as above described.During this circulation carbon from the mass 16 will be graduallyabsorbed. This carbon isprefcrably carried into chemical combinationwith the molten metal. lVhere the latter is iron, the solution of carbonwill be readily carried out at the temperature above indicated namelyapproximately 1200 CY It is also probable that a material quantity ofcarbon will be maintained in suspension in the bath but will still bereadily available for reaction "with the water vapor.

A further supply of carbon maybe made to enter the molten hath throughthe pipe 18. Such material may be powdered fuel or liquid hydrocarbons,either of which are suitable forthis purpose. This stream of material isshown to be delivered to the molten bath independently of the stream ofsteam although both streams may be merged before the materials aredelivered to the chamber 7.

In either case the contact of the steam with the molten material andwith the necessary carbon contained therein will serve to'decomp'ose thewater vapor into hydrogen and oxygen. Correspondingly, hydrocarbondelivered at the same time or through pipe 18 will be similarlydecomposed. The carbon combining with the oxygen of the gas will be insufficient quantity to produce carbon monoxide but not to make an ap-The gascs are maintained in thebath by the agition of the latter and bythe manner of de livering the gases, until the above reaction has beencarried out.

The reduced and carbureted gases escape from the surface of the bath andpass upwardly through the mass of carbonaceous material 16. This latterbody of material by contact with the molten bath and by radiationtherefrom, will be sufficiently hot to further improve the quality ofthe gases by stabilizing or fixing the gaseous constituents, and tocomplete their carburetion.

This process is carried out without access to the atmosphere andtherefore the gases are relatively free from nitrogen. There isdeveloped in the tower 13 a pressure considerably in excess of that ofthe atmosphere. This pressure may be maintained as desired.

As above described, water gas may be produced in a novel and improvedmanner and it is to be understood that various changes may be made inthe manner of carrying out the process without departing from the spiritof the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. The method of producing water gas which consists infusing a mass of iron for forming a molten bath, adding carbonaceousmaterial to said molten bath, and passing steam through the bath and incontact with the carbonaceous material therein thereby forming watergas.

2. The method of producing water gas which consists in fusing a mass ofiron for forming a molten bath, adding carbonaceous material to saidmolten bath, passing steam through the bath and in contact with thecarbonaceous material therein thereby forming water gas, and maintainingthebath in circulation.

3. The method of producing water gas which consists in fusing a mass ofiron for forming a molten bath, dissolving carbonaceous material in saidbath, and passing steam through the bath thereby forming water gas.

4. The method of producing Water gas which consists in maintaining ironin a molten state, adding carbonaceous material thereto, and passingsteam through said molten iron and in contact with the carbonaceousmaterial carried therein thereby forming Water gas.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

JOHANN EMIL LEONARZ.

